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Red Sox duo named AL Players of the Week

Napoli and Bailey become third pair of Boston players to share honor

4/21/13: Mike Napoli launches a home run out of Fenway Park and onto Lansdowne Street, knotting the score at 1 in the bottom of the second

By Joey Nowak
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MLB.com |

Red Sox teammates Mike Napoli and Andrew Bailey have been named American League co-Players of the Week this week. It's the third time a pair of Boston players have shared the honor.

They join Mike Lowell and David Ortiz (week ending Aug. 26, 2007), and Pedro Martinez and Trot Nixon (week ending July 7, 2002) as the third Red Sox tandem.

The duo helped lead the Sox to a 5-2 record during an emotional week in Boston, as Bailey went 1-0 with three saves, one walk and eight strikeouts in five innings spanning five appearances. He was tied for first in appearances and saves in baseball this week.

Napoli hit .345 (10-for-29) with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBIs over seven games. He led the Majors in RBIs, finished tied for first in doubles, tied for second in total bases and tied for third in hits.

Napoli's ninth-inning double off the Green Monster in Monday's 3-2 win against the Rays at Fenway Park gave Boston its second walk-off win in three days and secured the win for Bailey. On Wednesday, Bailey recorded his first save of the year.

It is the first weekly honor for both players.

‪Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.